A philosopher, peace advocate, and follower of the Dalai Lama, Ramin Jahanbegloo was accused by the Iranian government of plotting a 'soft overthrow' of the regime.

"The Islamic
government thinks it can possess our souls through forced confessions. They
want to tell the people of Iran that they have turned us into soulless images. And that they can do whatever they like with those images."

He suggests that greater self-reflection and self-critique are needed to address the mentality behind forced confessions:

"Iranians should ask
themselves one day, 'How did we create such monsters and criminals?' 'How did
they come to power?' This is not only a governmental problem. It is also a cultural problem. Iranian society can
create good and bad individuals. It should ask, 'Why?' These criminals are not
the only ones responsible. The people who watch those confessions also bear a certain
responsibility."